Flight Deal: U.S. to Rome from $350 Round-Trip

Yes, this deal is on Norwegian, and, yes, you'll have to pay more if you want a meal mid-flight. But if you play along with the ultra-low-cost carrier's rules, you could be in Rome this spring for just $350 round-trip. In March and April, nonstop flights from New York City and Los Angeles are low for routes that usually cost upwards of $700 on full-service airlines. So save a few extra hours on that nonstop and a few hundred bucks better spent upgrading to a room at the recently renovated

Portrait Roma, with its roof terrace and views of the Piazza di Spagna and the Villa Medici.

Cruise through our Black Book guide for info on avoiding the crowds (tip: hit up the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona before 9 a.m.), shopping like a true Roman, and getting authentic cacio e pepe. Once you tire of the ruins, make sure to check out the

We'll admit, Norwegian isn't for everyone. You'll have to pay to select your seat ($45), check a bag ($45), and choose a meal ($45) each way, bringing your round-trip total up to $620—or as we like to call it, not a deal at all. So plan accordingly. Take these tips from Bon Appétit on what to cook ahead of time for better-than-airplane-food airplane food. Squeeze your belongings into a carry-on (just make sure it's under 22 pounds). And embrace the middle seat. After all, you should get dibs on the armrests, and that's a flying win these days. Do all of the above and you're fee-less, flying for $350 round-trip from Newark or $454 from LAX.

How to book: To narrow down your options, make sure to select nonstop on Google Flights (use this sample search to start). From there, play around with the available dates in the calendar feature. The lowest fares are highlighted in green, but double check if your dates are non-negotiable, as some return dates show lower fares than originally marked in the calendar. From there, you can book with Norwegian and select what fees you're willing to pay.